After losing $100,000 over the last decade, Fredericton’s Morgentaler Clinic is closing. Since it was the province’s only private abortion facility, supporters say they are losing health care

The late Henry Morgentaler at his Fredericton clinic on Nov. 13, 1998 shortly after its opening.

By:Kevin BissettThe Canadian Press, Published on Fri Jul 18 2014

FREDERICTON—The only clinic in New Brunswick to offer abortions performed the last of the procedures Friday as appeals to the provincial government to remove restrictions fell on deaf ears.

About 150 protesters marched from the Morgentaler Clinic to the provincial legislature calling on the government to improve access to abortion, saying the regulations now in place effectively deny women their reproductive rights.

“It is very sad to see the clinic close and also very scary because with the clinic closing we lose 60 per cent of access to abortions in New Brunswick,” said Sorcha Beirne, who helped organize the rally. “We’re losing access to health care and we’re losing a little bit of hope.”

By law, a woman in New Brunswick who wants an abortion covered by medicare must have two doctors certify in writing that it is medically necessary, and the procedure must be carried out by a specialist in one of two approved hospitals. Once the clinic closes, those two hospitals will be the only facilities in the province where abortions will be provided.

The clinic said it performed more than 600 abortions annually. About 400 abortions are done each year at the two hospitals, according to the province’s Health Department.

Federal Green Leader Elizabeth May, whose party is holding a convention in Fredericton, addressed the rally outside the legislature. May said the situation in New Brunswick warrants the country’s attention.